Design Studio19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDTHotline Midweek BriefHotline Midweek Briefhttp://multibriefs.com/briefs/NARP/NARP.xmlenNortheast train passengers fuel Amtrak's growthThe News JournalAmtrak carried a record number of riders during the past year — an increase fueled by passenger surges on just a few lines, including those that pass through Wilmington, the national rail company announced recently.
Nationally, the intercity trains carried 31.3 million passengers in the 2016 fiscal year — which extends from Oct. 1, 2015, until Sept. 30, 2016 — nearly 400,000 more than the previous year. The Northeast Regional and Palmetto lines alone carried 366,000 more passengers.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efc5c81f471Chao nominated as Transportation Secretary; rail passengers look to partner on building a connected AmericaNational Association of Railroad PassengersFormer Labor Secretary Elaine Chao will be nominated to serve as Secretary of Transportation, President-elect Donald Trump's transition team announced recently. The National Association of Railroad Passengers will work with the incoming administration to ensure that we build a national transportation network that gives travel choices to urban and rural communities alike, and gives local officials flexibility in allocating limited resources to meet critical transit objectives.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efabda9b372FRA: Railroads' PTC progress is 'uneven'Progressive RailroadingThe Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) latest report on the status of positive train control (PTC) implementation shows "uneven progress" across the country and railroads toward activating the safety technology, the agency announced recently.
PTC is now active on 17 percent of freight railroad tracks as of third-quarter 2016, up from 9 percent in the second quarter. Passenger railroads increased their percentage to 23 percent in the third quarter, up from 22 percent in the second quarter, according to an FRA press release.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583eff69c0679345 years of Amtrak locomotivesUSA TODAYEvery year, Amtrak carries hundreds of thousands of customers home for the Thanksgiving holiday over a network connecting more than 500 communities. And locomotives are what power the trains that bring customers to the festivities — they are the workhorses of the Amtrak system.
Since its start in 1971, Amtrak has operated iconic locomotives from the diesel F40PH and P42 to the electric GG1, AEM7 and new ACS64.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efcba338634Virginia county leaders adamant: No to high-speed rail planRichmond Times-DispatchIt's no secret that Hanover County, Virginia, officials have expressed concerns regarding a high-speed rail project that could impact its residents and disrupt the rural character of the region.
Recently, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors made its position official in a resolution that requests the state's Department of Rail and Public Transportation abandon their consideration of the two options presented as part of a Northeast corridor high-speed rail project.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efe9f56f4b5Connecticut senator wants FRA to take action in Obama's last weeks as presidentGovernment Security NewsU.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) wrote Federal Railroad Administration Administrator Sarah Feinberg to call on the FRA to take immediate steps to advance rail safety. In the letter, Blumenthal identifies specific measures that the FRA can adopt now to strengthen standards and requirements for positive train control, speed control, and track inspections, as well as measures to address fatigued workers and other critical safety priorities.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efb08d51686Behind the scenes at Amtrak: How the rail giant turns trains aroundABC News With an estimated 750,000-plus passengers set to travel on its rails, Amtrak is preparing for a busy holiday season.
"Thanksgiving is our busiest time of the year," Amtrak Assistant Superintendent of Road Operations T.C. Williamson told ABC News.
Moving that many people means a lot of work behind the scenes. After passengers disembark, the train begins what rail workers call the "scrub and shove." 19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efd433dc967Joffe: High-speed Rail needs private fundingThe Mercury NewsThe razor-thin victory for the "No" side on Proposition 53, which would have restricted California's ability to borrow money to build infrastructure projects, puts the state on notice that voters won't issue a blank-check on the California High Speed Rail boondoggle.
As it was, Gov. Jerry Brown had to empty his campaign war chest to fight the measure. The message: Right this ship or see a similar ballot measure pass in a future election.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efddadfff58Amtrak to let pets ride for free for a limited timeUSA TODAYAmtrak has teamed up with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for a "Pets Ride Free" promotion timed to the DVD release of the film, The Secret Life of Pets.
The offer will be available on trips booked Dec. 6 through Dec. 11, or while supplies last. Pets will be able to ride at no additional cost on participating routes from Dec. 9 through March 31, 2017.
More than 40 Amtrak markets will participate in the program, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Miami, and San Francisco.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efbb6059889DOT takes South Coast Rail off MBTA's hands, assumes oversightSouth Coast TodayAfter years of working in tandem with the MBTA on the South Coast Rail project, the state Department of Transportation this week assumed full oversight of the project, according to state Rep. William Straus, who described himself as "excited and very, very happy."
The oversight now is being led by James Eng, the state's deputy administrator for rail.
The move takes the rail project out of the hands of MBTA at a time when the T has its hands full of problems with maintenance and financing.19 Dec 2018 19:32:47 CDThttp://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=583efa653ab9b10